After back-to-back nail-biters against Detroit and Carolina, the Capitals came into last night’s game needing more than just grit - they needed a clean, regulation win. And while it wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, Washington delivered a blue-collar performance, locking down a crucial victory over the Islanders and giving their rookie goaltender some well-earned breathing room.
The turning point came in a flash - two goals in just over 30 seconds. First, Martin Fehervary knotted things up with a well-executed sequence that started along the boards with Nic Dowd and moved quickly through Tom Wilson before Fehervary buried it past David Rittich. It was a confident finish from the young defenseman, who’s been quietly stringing together solid performances all season.
And talk about timing - Fehervary’s goal came just days after he and his girlfriend welcomed their first child. If you believe in "dad strength," well, there’s your proof.
But the Caps weren’t done. Just 31 seconds later, Anthony Beauvillier found a sliver of daylight and made it count.
Wrapping around the net, he tucked the puck between Rittich’s skate and the post for what would stand as the game-winner. It was a heads-up play, the kind of opportunistic finish that separates good scorers from great ones.
From there, the Caps clamped down. After allowing 12 shots in the opening frame, they held the Islanders to just 17 more the rest of the way - and most of those weren’t exactly high-danger chances.
Clay Stevenson, in just his second NHL start, looked calm and composed throughout, turning away everything that came his way. The rookie didn’t just survive; he gave his team a chance to win, and they rewarded him.
Nic Dowd kept his strong night rolling with a deflection that pinballed off Tony DeAngelo’s skate and into the net - a little puck luck, sure, but also a well-earned second point for Dowd, who was active all night. That gave the Caps a two-goal cushion, and John Carlson’s full-ice empty-netter sealed it.
Just like that, Washington has a three-game win streak going - and they’re starting to look like a team finding its rhythm. Next up?
A trip to Philadelphia for their first meeting with the Flyers this season. It’s a quick turnaround, but with momentum on their side, the Caps will be looking to keep the good times rolling in the City of Brotherly Love.